The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-01
FARMERS IN CONVENTION.
The Grange Encampment a, Mt. Holly
Interesting Account of the
Exercises, sc.
Spec.aL eorresrordence al tAe t;ol.l Lsnf

to your steadily enlarging circle of readers
to hear something about what took place
at the Grange Encampment at Mt. HOLLY,
i'll CASTOR county, August 10ih-lSth and
at the Interstate Convention of farmers
from the ten Gotten States held at Atlanta.
Ca, August l6th-l9th, will briefly make
mention of those matters of chief interest
that TRANSFERRED.
The Mt. Holly Encampment was gotten
up under the auspices of the Mt. Holly
Fair Association, assisted By Capt. Patrick.
Commissioner of immigration OF the State
Agricultural Department. Gentlemen
from different parts of the State had been
invited to address the meeting upon sub
jects of especial concern to the farming
interests of the State, and their addresses
State and abroad for general information.
Rev. O. \. Wells, President of the Com
mlttee OF Arrangements. presided over the
exercises, except when the Hon. Willis Il.
Williams of Pitt county, Master of the
State Grange, was in the chair. This was
the first Fair ever held at Mt. Holly, which
is small hamlet with hotel, situated ON
the Catawba river about u miles from
Charlotte.
A word about the city Of Charlotte. l
know of no town in the State that has as
much of the air and general appearance of
City as Charlotte. Its principal streets
are regularly laid off, ami their centres for
a space IF some tw enty feet wide, admira-
bly, macadamiZed. The sidewalks are
paved. \ hOrSe-car line carries you from
the depOts to the principal parts OF the
city Electric lights are abundant. There
are three hotels which are credit TO any
city. and numerous handsome churches
and private residences, render the place
especially attractive to strangers. It's rail-
road facilities are superior to any in the
State and yet on one of the days / was in
Charlotte, a meeting was held preparatory
to submitting to the people proposition
to subscribe largely to the building of
another railroad to run from Roanoke City,
Va, to CharlOtte-although the city has
now debt of three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars subscribed in aid of rail-
roads. Henderson can we'll follow the
example Of Charlotte, Winston, Asheville,
Durham and other cities and subscribe
literally to getting additional railroad
facilities and consequent competition and
low rates of freight.
The crowd at the Mt. Holly Fair was
very large, estimated at from five to six
thousand. The Hon. w. R. Williams, who
has probably seen more farmers assem-
blages than any other man in the State
said, North Carolina never before saw
such scene as this" The speaking was
done under large tent; there We're seats
for the audience and platform for the
speakers. On the first day, Wednesday,
addresses were made as follows: Address
of Welcome, by Rev. O. n. Wells open
of Congress, followed by addresses by
Hon. Giles j. Patterson of South Carolina
subject, The reasons why farming in
North OF South Carolina was not profitable;"
by Hon. John NJ. Robinson, Commissioner
of Agriculture, subject, 1.-The North Car
olina Department of Agriculture, how
S; NJ. Finger, State Superintendent of
Education, subject "The condition of
Public Educational Advantages to the
farmers children in North Carolina :"
Col. l.. L. Polk, editor of the ProgrcSsics
Turner, made an imprOmtu address, and
Experiment Station, subject, Home made
fertilizers and composts :" DR.. r. IL.
Lewis of Raleigh, subject, "Ensilage :"
Prof. Ludwig. Secretary of State Grange,
read an address prepared by the Hon. A.
P. Butler, Commissioner of Agriculture of
South Carolina, subject, The cause Of the
general failure of the farmers of North
and South Carolina to make farming a
pleasant and profitable occupation" In
the afternoon the speakers were Capt T..
R. Stamps of Raleigh, subject, How has
| the State convict affected industrial devel
opment and the labor of North Carolina ;
Hon. Walter l.. Steele, subject, "Will il
in manufacturing enterprises Col. Julian
Allen of Statesville, subject, A Northern
| settlers experience in farming in North
| Carolina. On Thursday the crowd was
even greater than the day before and the
speakers were Hon. Willis r. Williams
cations J" Hon. Kemp P. Battle, President
must must be educated !" P Hon. W. H. Ki tcg
ex-member of Congress, subject, evil
the use Of less commercial fertilizers ado
to the prosperity of the farmer )" Capt
| No4t hi nf ALL 10
What advantages have the immigration OF
industrious settlers, of manufacturing ell
terprises and of capital, been to the farming
interests = J. Van Lindley, Esq, Presi
j dent State Horticultural Society, subject
Fruit growing" Col. Thos. NJ. Holt
ex-Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, subject, g The effect and advantage
of manufacturing to farmers" James II
Enniss, Esq. Editor of the North Carolina
economy on the farm On Friday tn
last day of the Encampment the speaker
were Gen. Cullen Battle of Wadesboro
subject, Must the farmer keep posted Oh
current events ;" Hon. Oliver Ii. Decker,
of Richmond county, subject, 1.-The far
mer boy" S. w. Noble, Esq, of Whining
ton, subject, Cultivation of grapes TO
the Northern MARKET and the undersigned
subject; Golden leaf tobacco, and wha
it has done for North Carolina" In al
dition to the above, the addresses of DR.. L
ID. Smith, Mlneralogist, subject, Are tn
development and mining of precious stone
of any advantage to farmers - Judge
T.. Poole Of Elizebeth City. subject
Trucking in Eastern North Carolina
and of DR.. j. \. Cook, the celebrate
Veterinary Surgeon of Atlanta, subject
Diseases Of domestic animals and TIL
necessity for humane treatment" wer
read in part and ordered to be printed
In glancing over the above list of subject
discussed, it would seem that every matte
of interest to the farmer was included
and when we consider the great variety q
the matter embraced in these twenty-fy
addreSses-allO of which were doubtless PIE
pared with great care and research. tin
value of such meeting as an educatiOna
factor can't we'll be over estimated. 1t
safe to say such large concourse of carr
est, we'll informed, public spirited mel
never before assembled at farmers gait
ering in North Carolina, and these adircsse
when published and disseminated abroa
, must result in the greatest good to the a.
ricultural interests of the State. In add
ton to the above intellectual treat, othe
attractions were provided for the visitor
at the Fair, to wit: Such sports as boz
racing, running races, baseball matche
for silver trophy, jumping contests,
| tournament SAGE, rack race, wheel baTTO'
race, rife shooting for the prize of
Whitney sporting rifle and other sport:
The display of farm products was not yer
extensive, but there was quite number {
agricultural machines exhibited. The di
, plays made by Mr.. b. T. McAdam Of Ga
ton county. of manufactured cotton good
and plaids, and the Acme Fibre Co, {
Wilmington, y. g., manufacturers Of MA
ting from the foliage Of the long leaf pine
) were especially noticeable and elaborate
If it is thought desirable will in subst
quent letter tell Of the Interstate ConveI
ton of farmers that met at Atlanta, Al
, gust 16th-l9th, and my convictions Of III